Welcome to NASIOC - The world's largest online community for Subaru enthusiasts!

Welcome to the NASIOC.com Subaru forum.

You are currently viewing our forum as a guest, which gives you limited access to view most discussions and access our other features. By joining our community, free of charge, you will have access to post topics, communicate privately with other members (PM), respond to polls, upload content and access many other special features. Registration is free, fast and simple, so please join our community today!

If you have any problems with the registration process or your account login, please contact us.

OK, so I've heard the tire size and demensions debate enought to choose the perfect tire. But there's still one thing I'm not sure on. Who makes the better tire? So far I'm caught between Pirelli and Nitto. I've had Nittos and they're excellent, extremely grippy and good in wet whether. I've looked into Yokohama, but I've heard some people love it and some hate it. Plus I have heard that they're not is good in Seattle-type whether. So any suggestions out there? I wanna get some new wheels, but don't know what tires go get. So far I hav decided on 18's with 215/40, but just stuck on the tirebrand. And please no opinions on the wheel size, trust me, if I do any autocrossing, I'm putting my stock wheels back on.

You best bet would be too look at what is availible in that size. Then choose from there. I know from experience there are not a lot of 18 tires out there that will fit our car. I went with a 225/40 and got the Yoko Parada's. I love them, so there is my opinion.

I am using 215/40R18. There are only 3 tires made in this size, Dunlop W-10, Pirelli P7000 SuperSport and Yokohama Parada. The P7000SS is a all-season tire, and not I had wanted, so there choice is slim. And the user reports on Tirerack definitely shows Parada to be a better choice than the Dunlops.

I've got 225/35R18 Paradas. I love 'em. They have a little more road noise than I would like but man do they stick. They don't really squeal too much around corners either. I have also driven on the P7000 All-seasons and the P7000 summers. They all-seasons are dead silent and a great performer. I would recommend them as well because they are a bit cheaper and have a pretty good treadwear. The summers.... well, they have a treadwear of like 160 or something totally unrealistic. I would rule them out for a daily driver car.

Let me add that I have P7000SS on my other car (a 89 Supra), running 225/50R16. As tomas said, these are very quiet tires, and comfortable too. And it's good in the rain; no hydroplaning at high speed. However, the compound it uses doesn't provide much grip. It's a "compromise" tire that I decided NOT to put on my 18" wheels on the WRX.

Wow, thanks for the response everyone. But now it sounds pretty split between Yokohama and Pirelli. So any further opinions on these tires? Oh... and has no one driven Nitto? When I called Tirerack they had no idea, nor had they used Nitto before.

Hey Ippon, I'm running Yokohama A520s on my RS right now in Seattle weather. From my experience over the last few months, they have been a lot better than stock tires around the city. Dry grip is great, and wet is better than stock(I've got nothing else to compare them too). I'm happy with them. They are noisier than stock, and they wander due to their very stiff sidewall. I'm running 215/45/17 on my RS, the shorter sidewall for an 18" size will probably wander a bit more.

Ha, Michelin... If the prices are not so high for their Pilot lines, and if they hadn't made that crappy XGT V4 a few years back. And how about Goodyear? Anybody has them?

Back to the subject... Ippon, the question is whether you're going to use two sets of tires or one. I hope you're using two as 18" in the winter is not good. If these are just for summer, don't get the P7000SS. Pure summer tires are generally much better in dry AND in the rain. Go with the Yokos.

I had 205.45.16's NT-555 nitto's on my integra. They lasted ~ 35k miles including 2 1/2 track days, they are pretty hydroplane resistant - 70mph and no planing with my car, very responsive- quick turn in, don't squeal around corners, pretty high ultimate grip, very good braking, good wet traction, fairly progressive at the limits, ride is decent for category tire and handling traits - better than I thought, but not as good as Sumi HTRZ II's (sumi is not as reponsive- more compromised to daily driving), only down side is they are a bit noisy, or were. They get noisier as they wear. Only really quiet on smooth asphalt. Other than that, I liked them.

Best tire I have ever used is BF Goodrich G-Force KDW. They stick very well and are known for the tremendous sidewall stifness so no flopping around. The tread is a very blocky muscular look too. They are also amazing in the wet butare ONLY summer tires. They are terrible in snow and were never planned to be used in it. Good luck BOS WRX